Adjustable compartment size storage unit

ABSTRACT

An adjustable compartment size storage unit of simple and economic design is described. The units may be divided into vertical and/or horizontal compartments by the use of universally-fitting partitions. In particular, the horizontal partitions are formed so as to be readily assembled or disassembled while still providing a structure that will support a substantial weight placed thereon. The units are designed to be used in conjunction with other similar units to form almost any desired configuration of compartments. The storage units are of particular value for use in sorting mail.

United States Patent Luvara et al.

ADJUSTABLE COMPARTMENT SIZE STORAGE UNIT Inventors: Anthony Luvara,Stamford; Thomas J. Mitchell, Darien, both of Conn.

Assignee: Pitney-Bow'es, Inc., Stamford, Conn.

Filed: May 12, 1972 Appl. No.: 252,826

211/148, 211/184, 312/108 Int. Cl B42f 17/12 Field of Search 211/10,184, 148; 108/107,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,632 10/1955 Surpierre108/61 X 2,149,603 3/1939 Hamby 108/110 X 3,563,624 2/1971 Stice 312/1112,797,819 7/1957v Lowmaster 211/184 X 1451 Apr. 30, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 5,770 3/1911 Great Britain 108/107 Primary Examiner-RoyD. Frazier Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William D. Solow, Jr.; Al-

bert W. Scribner; Robert E. Meyer 57 ABSTRACT An adjustable compartmentsize storage unit of simple and economic design is described. The unitsmay be divided into vertical and/or horizontal compartments by the useof universally-fitting partitions. In particular, the horizontalpartitions are formed so as to be readily assembled or disassembledwhile still providing a structure that will support a substantial weightplaced thereon. The units are designed to be used in conjunction withother similar units to form almost any desired configuration ofcompartments. The storage units are of particular value for use insorting mail.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 301914 SHEET 3 [IF 3" ADJUSTABLECOMPARTMENT SIZE STORAGE UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION compartmentedstorage units are well-known and are used for many utilitarian purposes.Such units are typically box-shaped and contain provisions for theinstallation of vertical and/or horizontal partitions to divide theoriginal box unit into smaller compartments. These units have been builtin many sizes and with many different partition mounting configurationsin an effort to provide a unit which is simple to manufacture, is low incost, and in which the partitions are easily assembled and disassembleto meet the various and changing requirements for storage space. Thehorizontal partitions and their mounting configurations are particularlyimportant in that they must be rigidenough to support whatever weight isplaced on the partition without causing undue deflection of thepartition and- /or disengagement of the partition from'its mounting.

In the priorart, these units have typically been made of sheet metal.The box-shaped. housing would have side walls formed with slots orinwardly formed tabs which would accept and support horizontalpartitions inserted therein.. These units, when made in. larger sizes,tend to be less rigid than desired becauseof their thin sheet metalconstruction and should a large weight be placed upon a partition, theweight could cause the partition to deflect, perhaps with the result ofthe partition disengaging its supporting slot or tab in the sides of theunit. Improvements to these units have included secondary inner sidewalls formed with slots or inwardly formed tabs which would engage to agreater:

depth the partition supported thereon; Additionally, ribs or bent-overportions were formed on the partitions themselves to give greaterstrength to the member or perhaps a thicker gauge of sheet metal wasused in the construction of the parts. Other designs for these unitshave provided positive fasteningmeans such as screws to hold eachindividual partition in place and to provide for a more rigid unit.While this approach solved the disengaging problem, it made assembly anddisassembly of the units that much more involved in as much as toolswere now required to initially assemble the unit and each time itwasdesired to reposition any of the partitions within the unit. Whileall of these solutions were efiective, they all suffered the drawback ofadding an increased level of manufacturing difficulty, additional cost,and in some cases'weight tothe final product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided an improved type of storage unit which is easily manufactured,low in cost and readily assembled and disassembled. All of thecomponents of the unit are moulded from a suitable plastic material. Aminimum number of components are required to construct a single modularunit which can then be joined with other similar units to provideadditional compartmented storage space. For example, a singular storageunit is constructed with identical interchangeable pieces being used forthe top and bottom walls and a second piece being used for both theright and left side walls. A back wall may be provided, if desired. Onestandard vertical partition may be used to divide the basic boxvertically and a small number of horizontal partitions of differentlengths but identical construction are provided to divide the basic boxinto horizontal compartments between its side walls and/or a side walland a vertical partition.

More specifically,the invention provides for a storage unit having top,bottom and side walls forming a box-like structure with a series ofparallel indentations being formed into the inside surfaces thereof.Vertical and horizontal partitions are provided to divide the basic boxstructure into smaller compartments. Vertical partitions are placedbetween the top and bottom walls and retained thereat by a snap fitarrangement be tween thetop and bottom edges of the partition and theindentations in the top and bottom walls. The vertical partition alsohas a series of parallel indentations formed into its outer surfaces.The horizontal partitions are positioned between the side walls of thebox or between one side wall and a vertical partition. The horizontalpartition is formed with tabs extending outwardly from each side thereofand spaced closely adjacent and extending parallel to the lower surfaceof said partition so as to permit flexureof the tab in a downwarddirection while restricting flexture in an upward direction. The tab isformed at its outer end so as to engage one of the indentations in thesaid walls and/or the vertical partition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of theinstant invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of six basic storage units joined togetherto provide a large number of individual storage spaces.

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view showing a horizontalpartition in the process of being installed into a storage unit. I

FIG. 4 is also a partial front elevational view showing a horizontalpartition as assembled into a storage unit.

FIG. 5 shows the horizontal partition of FIG. 3 supporting a weightthereon.

FIG. 6 is another partial front elevational view showing the horizontalpartition in the process of being removed from a unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As seen in FIG. 1, the adjustablecompartment sizestorage unit embodying the instant invention comprises a basicallyrectangular box-like housing shown generally at 10 having provisions forthe insertion therein of vertical and horizontal partitions showngenerally at 12. In the present embodiment, the component parts of thebox-like housing 10 and the vertical partition 32 are manufactured fromhigh impact polystrene material usinga structural foam molding processwhile: the horizontal partition 40 is injection moulded from anacrylonitrile-butadiene styrene material. The housing is made 'up of abottom wall 14, a top wall 16, and side walls 18. The side edges of thebottom wall 14 are formed so as to receive, align and retain the loweredge 22 of side walls 18 in a snap-fitting manner which is well-known inthe art and accordingly need not be further described herein. The topwall is also secured to the side walls in a similar manner. In thepresent embodiment, the top and bottom walls are identical as are theside walls. While this snap-fitting arrangement of the top, bottom andside walls will normally provide sufficient strength and rigidity forthe assembled unit, it is also possible to further secure the unitthrough the use of fasteners of many well known types, such as screws.Alternately, some type of adhesive could be additionally used on thesejoints to add additional strength. A back wall 24 may also be providedto be assembled in a similar snap-fitting arrangement and/or with theuse of fasteners or adhesives as noted above. While not shown in thisembodiment, it would also be possible to provide a hinged front panel toact as a door to make the unit into a closed compartment.

Formed into the upper surface 26 of bottom wall 14 are a series ofparallel indentations 28. In this embodiment, the indentations arearranged in two parallel rows and in as much as the bottom and top wallsare identical, these indentations are also present in the lower surfaceof the top wall in vertical alignment with the indentations-in thebottom wall. The inner surfaces of the side walls 18 contain a series ofparallel indentations identical to those formed in the bottom wall. Theindentations 30 can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 3-6 from which it isapparent that these indentations are simply V shaped notches havingtheir sides at an angle of approximately to the inner surface of theside and bottom walls and extending to a depth of approximately half ofthe thickness of the side and bottom walls. These indentations 28 and 30serve as the locating and retaining means for both vertical andhorizontal partitions which may be installed within the housing 10.

A vertical partition 32 is provided to be inserted into the housingbetween the top and bottom walls and retained in this position'by theindentations 28 located on the said top and bottom walls. The lower edge34 of the verticalpartition 32 is formed so as to engage the indentations 28 in the bottom walll4 while the upper edge 36 of thevertical partition 32 has a pair of vertically extending members 38integrally formed into the vertical partition 32 in such a manner so asto be deflectable and having a shape so as to engage and be retained bythe indentations formed in the inner surface of the top wall. A verticalpartition 32 is assembled into the basic housing 10 by placing thepartition 32 at an angle inclined from the vertical and inserting itinto the housing 10. The tabs 34 on the lower edge of the partition 32are then placed in the selected indentations 38 in the bottom wall 14.The partition 32 is then pivoted about its lower edge into a verticalposition. This pivoting motion will cause the members38 to contact theinner surface of the top wall 16 and further pivoting will cause thesemembers 38 to deflect until a vertical position is reached at which timethe members 38 will snap into the indentations in the inner surface ofthe top wall.

A horizontal partition 40 is provided to be assembled at any one of anumber of positions as determined by the number of indentations in theside walls and vertical partition. The horizontal partition 40 is formedwith a vertical rib 42 on the underside thereof and extending from thefront to rear edge thereof. Affixed to this rib and spaced closelyadjacent and extending parallel to the lower surface of the partition 40are a pair of tabs 44 extending outwardly from the side thereof. Theouter end 45 of these tabs 44 is formed at an angle of approximately 45downwardly from the horizontal so as to correspond to the shape of theindentations formed in theside walls 18 and vertical partition 32. Avertical reinforcing rib 48 is located on the underside of the partition40 directly above tab 44 to provide additional strength and to restrictthe upward flexure of tab 44. These tabs 44 are spaced apart a distanceequal to the distance between the indentations 30 so as to provide notonly vertical support but also from to rear positioning for thepartition 40. This rib and tab construction is also repeated on theopposite side edge of the partition 40.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the horizontal partition 40 is assembled intothe housing'10 by placing it at an angle to the horizontal andintroducing it into the housing unit. The tabs 44 on one edge of thehorizontal partition 40 are then introduced into the selectedindentations 30 in either the side wall 18 or the vertical partition 32if one is used and the opposite end is then rotated upwardly asindicated by arrow 46 in F IG. 3. Due to this upward motion and thedimensions of the parts, the tabs 44 will come into contact with theinner surface of the side wall 18. Further rotation of the partition 40to a horizontal location will cause the tab 44 to be deflecteddownwardly until such time as the horizontal position is reached whereatthe tab 44 will engage a set of indentations 30 and the partition 40will be retained in place as shown in F IG. 4. In this position, thehorizontal partition 40 is firmly located between the side wall 18 andvertical partition 36 of within the housing 10. The shape and locationof the tab 44 and cooperating indentation 30 provides support for thepartition and any normal weight placed thereon. However, as seen in FIG.5, should a substantial weight W be placed on the partition 40, the tabs44 will begin to deflect under the load. This deflection is restrictedalmost immediately by the presence of the reinforcing ribs 48 locateddirectly above the tabs 44 which contact the upper surface of the tabs44. to prevent any further deflection and to fully support the weight W.

The horizontal partition 40 is also easily disassembled as shown in FIG.6. The assembly process as described above is simple continued in thatan upward force, indicated by arrow 50, is again applied to theunderside of the partition at the side, causing the tab 44 to deflectdownwardly as the partition rises and continuation of this motion willeventually free the tab from the indentations 30.

Thus, it can be seen that this arrangement of the tab 44 on thehorizontal partition is such that downward flexure of the tab ispermitted to allow the partition to be assembled or disassembled intothe unit while the reinforcing ribs 48 and lower surface of partition 40restrict flexure in an upward direction thereby enabling a substantialweight to be supported on the partition with no possibility ofdisengagement of the partition from the side walls.

Located in the bottom and top walls 14 and 16 respectively are twocounterbored holes 52 and located in the side walls 18 is a singlecounterbored hole 53 to be used when it is desired to join together anumber of basic units to provide additional storage space. A standardfastener of any suitable type (not shown) is inserted through holes 52or 53 to secure two units together in a top to bottom or side by sidearrangement. FIG. 2 shows six basic storage units assembled together inthis manner to illustrate the flexibility possible with this typeconstruction. In FIG. 2; unit A is a basic unit with no partitionsinstalled; unit 10B contains only horizontal partitions; unit 10Ccontains only vertical partitions; and units 10D, 10B and IOP eachcontain combinations of horizontal and vertical partitions. Theseconfigurations as shown in FIG. 2 are purely exemplary and anyarrangement of storage units and partitions within the units can, ofcourse, be made to satisfy the requirements for compartmented storagespace.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable compartment size storage unit comprising:

top and bottom walls;

side walls having a series of parallel V shaped indentations formed intothe inside surfaces thereof;

means to secure said side walls to said top and bottom walls; and

at least one' horizontal partition positioned between said side wallsand having one side edge supported by one of said side walls and havingat least one integrally formed flexible tab extending outwardly from theopposite side edge thereof, said tab being spaced closely adjacent andextending substantially parallel to the lower surface of said partition,said tab being flexible in a downward direction and prevented fromflexure in an upward direction by the lower surface of said partition,said tab being formed at its outer end at an angle of approximately 45downwardly from the horizontal so as to engage one of said indentationsin said side walls when said partition is moved in an upward directioncausing said tab to flex downwardly until the outer end thereof engagesan indentation in said side wall.

2. An adjustable compartment size storage unit comprising:

top and bottom walls having a series of parallel indentations formedinto the inside surfaces thereof;

side walls having a series of parallel V shaped indentations formed intothe inside surfaces thereof;

means to secure said side walls to said top and bottom walls;

at least one vertical partition having a series of parallel V" shapedindentations formed into the outer surfaces thereof and a lower edgeshaped to engage one of said indentations in said bottom wall and anupper edge having formed therein at least one vertically extendingdeflectable member for engagement with one of said indentations in saidtop wall whereby said vertical partition is introduced into said storageunit at an angle inclined from the vertical with said lower edge engagedwith one of said 6 indentations in said bottom wall and pivoted aboutsaid lower edge into a vertical position causing said vertical member onsaid upper edge to deflect until said vertical position is reachedwhereat said member engages said indentations in said top wall;

at least one horizontal partition positioned between said side wall andsaid vertical partition having at least one integrally formed flexibletab extending outwardly from each side thereof, said tab being spacedclosely adjacent and extending substantially parallel to the lowersurface of said horizontal partition, said tab being flexible in adownward direction and prevented from flexure in an upward direction bythe lower surface of said horizontal partition, said tab being formed atits outer end at an angle of approximately 45 downwardly from thehorizontal so as to engage one of said indentations in said side walland said vertical partition when said horizontal partition is moved inan upward, direction causing said tab to 'flex downwardly until theouter end thereof engages said indentations in said side wall and saidvertical partition.

3. The storage unit of claim 2 wherein said horizontal partition furthercomprises vertical reinforcing ribs located on the underside of saidpartition and above each of said tabs.

4. The storage unit of claim 2 further comprising a back wall andwherein said top, bottom and side walls further comprise means to jointogether similar top, bottom and side walls of other storage unitswhereby a multiplicity of basic storage units may be formed.

5. An adjustable compartment sizestorage unit comprising:

A. top and bottom walls;

B. side walls having a series of horizontally spaced parallelindentations formed into the inside surfaces thereof;

C. means to secure said side walls to said top and bot tom walls; and

D. at least one horizontal partition positioned between said side wallsand including at least one relatively thin non-compressible flexible tabformed integrally with said partition and adjacent one side edge of saidpartition, said tab 1. being spaced closely adjacent and extendingsubstantially parallel to the lower surface of said partition,

2. being flexible in a downward direction and prevented from flexure inan upward direction by the lower surface of said partition, and

3. having an outer end projecting beyond and downwardly of said edge ofsaid partition for C0- operative locking engagement with saidindentations in said side wall when moved in one direction with respectto said side wall, said outer end being operatively associated with saidindentations so as to prevent release therefrom except by movement ofsaid tab with respect to said side wall in said one direction,

whereby said partition is held in locked engagement between said sidewalls against downward movement thereof and is releasable from itsposition between said side walls only by upward movement thereof withrespect to said side walls.

1. An adjustable compartment size storage unit comprising: top andbottom walls; side walls having a series Of parallel ''''V'''' shapedindentations formed into the inside surfaces thereof; means to securesaid side walls to said top and bottom walls; and at least onehorizontal partition positioned between said side walls and having oneside edge supported by one of said side walls and having at least oneintegrally formed flexible tab extending outwardly from the oppositeside edge thereof, said tab being spaced closely adjacent and extendingsubstantially parallel to the lower surface of said partition, said tabbeing flexible in a downward direction and prevented from flexure in anupward direction by the lower surface of said partition, said tab beingformed at its outer end at an angle of approximately 45* downwardly fromthe horizontal so as to engage one of said indentations in said sidewalls when said partition is moved in an upward direction causing saidtab to flex downwardly until the outer end thereof engages anindentation in said side wall.
 2. An adjustable compartment size storageunit comprising: top and bottom walls having a series of parallelindentations formed into the inside surfaces thereof; side walls havinga series of parallel ''''V'''' shaped indentations formed into theinside surfaces thereof; means to secure said side walls to said top andbottom walls; at least one vertical partition having a series ofparallel ''''V'''' shaped indentations formed into the outer surfacesthereof and a lower edge shaped to engage one of said indentations insaid bottom wall and an upper edge having formed therein at least onevertically extending deflectable member for engagement with one of saidindentations in said top wall whereby said vertical partition isintroduced into said storage unit at an angle inclined from the verticalwith said lower edge engaged with one of said indentations in saidbottom wall and pivoted about said lower edge into a vertical positioncausing said vertical member on said upper edge to deflect until saidvertical position is reached whereat said member engages saidindentations in said top wall; at least one horizontal partitionpositioned between said side wall and said vertical partition having atleast one integrally formed flexible tab extending outwardly from eachside thereof, said tab being spaced closely adjacent and extendingsubstantially parallel to the lower surface of said horizontalpartition, said tab being flexible in a downward direction and preventedfrom flexure in an upward direction by the lower surface of saidhorizontal partition, said tab being formed at its outer end at an angleof approximately 45* downwardly from the horizontal so as to engage oneof said indentations in said side wall and said vertical partition whensaid horizontal partition is moved in an upward direction causing saidtab to flex downwardly until the outer end thereof engages saidindentations in said side wall and said vertical partition.
 2. beingflexible in a downward direction and prevented from flexure in an upwarddirection by the lower surface of said partition, and
 3. having an outerend projecting beyond and downwardly of said edge of said partition forcooperative locking engagement with said indentations in said side wallwhen moved in one direction with respect to said side wall, said outerend being operatively associated with said indentations so as to preventrelease therefrom except by movement of said tab with respect to saidside wall in said one direction, whereby said partition is held inlocked engagement between said side walls against downward movementthereof and is releasable from its position between said side walls onlyby upward movement thereof with respect to said side walls.
 3. Thestorage unit of claim 2 wherein said horizontal partition furthercomprises vertical reinforcing ribs located on the underside of saidpartition and above each of said tabs.
 4. The storage unit of claim 2further comprising a back wall and wherein said top, bottom and sidewalls further comprise means to join together similar top, bottom andside walls of other storage units whereby a multiplicity of basicstorage units may be formed.
 5. An adjustable compartment size storageunit comprising: A. top and bottom walls; B. side walls having a seriesof horizontally spaced parallel indentations formed into the insidesurfaces thereof; C. means to secure said side walls to said top andbottom walls; and D. at least one horizontal partition positionedbetween said side walls and including at least one relatively thinnon-compressible flexible tab formed integrally with said partition andadjacent one side edge of said partition, said tab